University of Evansville recognized again for community service

EVANSVILLE - The University of Evansville was recently named to the national President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the third time, this time for projects completed in 2011-12.

The 2013 Honor Roll recipients were announced this month at the American Council on Education's 95th annual meeting Leading Change in Washington, DC.

The annual list, launched in 2006 and compiled by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Department of Education, highlights the role higher education institutions play in solving community problems and guiding more students on a lifelong path of civic engagement by recognizing colleges and universities that achieve measurable and meaningful outcomes in the communities they serve.

"We've always been an institution committed to community service and to be recognized for that at this highest level is certainly an honor," said Dana Clayton, vice president of student affairs and dean of students.

The 2013 Honor Roll reflects community service logged between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012, a period when 2,077 UE students performed 19,167 hours of community service.

"Social responsibility is a core goal in the University of Evansville's strategic plan, so we're very proud to once again receive national recognition for our commitment to community service," Thomas Kazee, UE president, said in a news release. "We applaud our students for giving their time and energy to make the community a better place."

A total of 690 colleges and universities were named on the list. UE is on the list with 11 other Indiana schools, and four other Indiana schools are on a list "with distinction." Other Indiana schools include Ball State University in Muncie, Harrison College in Indianapolis and the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne.

"We believe that we're educating for the common good," Clayton said. "And so to help students understand how their education can be put to work in the community, to better our community and our society, is one of our key objectives."

Students at UE do "a little bit of everything," she said.

Projects the university has participated in include work with after school tutoring through the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp., Keep Evansville Beautiful, and the annual Freshman Service Project, freshmen fan out across the community to volunteer with about 20 nonprofit organizations, as well as the springtime program UE Gives Back.

"Most importantly is helping our students understand that the world becomes a better place when we are all committed to doing our part," Clayton said. "That's what it's all about."